Once the harvest is over, unknown figures criss-cross the fields to cut the stems for reproduction.  They work for long hours beneath a scorching sun.  Let's meet these women who are not scared of labour.         

They are up since dawn.  Wearing large straw hats, Kamla and her colleagues are busy digging endless furrows which in a few weeks will produce new stalks. 

But first, they must remove lots of stones from the field, and this renders their tasks even more difficult.  Nestled on the upper parts of Flic-en-Flac, the huge sugar cane fields, farmed by the sugar industry of Médine, offer an unrestricted view all over the western coast.       

Wherever one strolls on the island, one cannot fail to see these figures that criss-cross the fields to cultivate the land for the new crops.  They have long been part of the Mauritian landscape. 

Although most of these operations have long been undertaken by machineries, these little hands are still essential in some cases.  Filled with admiration for their courage, the motorists wave at them before disappearing.       

With their rubber boots and scarves that partly cover their faces, these women do not seem to be bothered by the stifling heat that drops on the island in this period.  Yet, it is not unusual that some of them collapse. 

"It's a hard and exhausting work, mostly because of the heat.  You just need to drink lots of water," blurted out Kamla, employed in a factory for more than 15 years.  The long hours spent working beneath the sun has not ruined the good mood of these women.      

Cairns

Like her, her seven other colleagues also do not balk at the task and hope to finish with this field as soon as possible.  Because the next day, another portion of land, situated a few kilometers away, needs to be cultivated as well. 

After having spent 10 years working in the sugar cane fields, Sheela explains having learnt how to cultivate the land.  Besides, with her savings, she bought a plot of land onto which she grows vegetables.       

At around 01 00pm, when the sun reaches its zenith, the silhouettes abandon pickaxes, wicker baskets and shovels to refresh themselves for a few minutes at the foot of the cairns. 

"This is my favourite time of the day.  You can sit and chat whilst enjoying the scenery.  The work is very hard, but few people can boast of having such a landscape as workplace," says Kamla under the amused eyes of her colleagues.   

The working day will only be over at around 03 00pm.  With a slow movement, these women, exhausted pick up their tools and drink their remaining water.  Whilst waiting for the truck which will bring them back home, Kamla and the others continue their chat within a good mood.  And when we ask them why they love so much working in the fields, they reply unanimously: "To see the landscape awaken each morning."   

Text and photos: Guillaume Gouges
January 2008